Give the Gift of God’s Word

July 13, 2012 By

When our daughter turned 18 and moved away to attend school, my husband gave her a Bible. It wasn’t a new Bible. It was the Bible that had been given to him when he became a Christian at the age of 20.

This leather-bound volume was nearly 25 years old.

Pages highlighted.

Gold edges tattered.

Notes and thoughts scribbled in the margins.

Many who may glance at it will see an old book. My daughter instead sees a treasure.

Kenna carries this Bible with her to church on Sundays. She curls up and reads it during the week in her times alone with God, seeking Him on the pages of His word. And she now highlights and marks and makes notes herself.

Sometimes, she will snap a picture of a page and send it to me; something her dad wrote in the margin that also spoke to her. She loves seeing his insights jotted down in his very own handwriting.

If you don’t have a Bible to give your son or daughter that you have personally used and loved over the years, you can still give them a meaningful gift. Simply purchase a new Bible a year before their milestone event—perhaps their 16th birthday or high school graduation. Then, take a year to read through it with a Bible reading plan making notations in the margin written specifically to your child.

Make comments about the verse’s special significance. Mention how you’ve seen a truth of scripture lived out in their life. Warn them of pitfalls. Encourage them with favorite verses underlined.

Then, on their big day, wrap it up and give it to them as a gift. It will become a treasured heirloom they too can pass on one day.

The gift of God’s word. There is nothing better!

Blessings,

Karen Ehman, www.karenehman.com

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21 Comments | Filed Under: Parenting, Teens
About Karen Ehman

Karen Ehman is the Director of Speakers for Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of five books including the best-selling book and DVD Bible study curriculum LET. IT. GO. How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith. She has been the guest on national media outlets such as Focus on the Family, Moody Mid-day Connection and The 700 Club. Married to her college sweetheart Todd for over 25 years, together they are raising their three sometimes quarrelsome but mostly charming children in the boondocks of central Michigan. Her desire is through her speaking and writing to help women to live their priorities and love their lives. Connect with her for real-life encouragement at www.karenehman.com.

  • keltrinswife

    What a great idea! Be blessed :)

  • http://learningwithmom.wordpress.com/ Jasmine

    Very cool!!

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=733519491 Shonda Knowlton

    I love this idea, Karen. I have a Bible that I got from my grandma when she passed away. It wasn’t specifically for me, but I see lots of her notes. I would love to do this for each of my kids. I do have a Bible that I received at HS grad that I have written all over. I will probably give that to one of my children.

  • RoseyJ

    Awesome!!! I’m getting started on this one…with three kids it may take some time, especially to do it right!!!!

  • Alyssa

    This is FANTASTIC. Getting to work now for my four kids!

  • Kristen

    My dad gave me his Bible when I got married. This was the Bible he started using when he first became a Christian in 1973. It was (as is) such a precious gift becaue of his testimony of coming from a life of drugs and alcohol to Christ and then to my mom. It’s the legacy of our family because without that one day when he made his decision to follow Christ, none of us would be here.

    I love the idea of purchasing a Bible specifically for each child. Our boys are in 7th and 4th grades and our daughter is 2 years old. Imagine how much I could invest in their spirits if I started this soon?!

  • mrspear

    Karen – I absolutely LOVE this idea. My oldest is only 7. But I will definitely be doing this for her and her sister.

  • http://graceformymess.com/ Jana | GraceForMyMess.com

    What a beautiful legacy of faith to leave with my kids! I’ve told my parents I’d like to have their Bibles someday, but hadn’t thought of doing this for my own kids as they leave the nest. Yes, definitely doing this! Thanks for sharing, Karen!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gail-Douglas/100003709808401 Gail Douglas

    Karen, I am now a Catholic for 10 yrs, My husbnd was not a practicing Carholic since we married in 1966. We have 2 boys who are now practicing Catholics and my hubby also..one great family. Religion is very important for a family. When you discover Faith, you become a whole person. We all share in our bible studies and I dunno, but this is very gratifying to us.

  • Jdaniel4smom

    This is such a great idea! I will have to remember to get one for my son.

  • Jenny

    I LOVE this idea! What a precious gift for children. My grandma recently passed away and the item my mom wanted most was her Bible. It is beautiful to see glimpses of Grandma’s heart all throughout her Bible.

  • http://twitter.com/jenshomeschool Jennifer Merckling

    Love this idea, Karen! Thanks for sharing–it’s a keeper!

  • Teresa T

    I’m a middle aged lady who inherited my Mom’s Bible when she passed. I think it really has helped my spiritual journey. It is a good study Bible with lots of resources and also has her treasured comments. She always wrote with a purple pen. Her book marks are hand stitched. There is still a church bulletin stuck inside with a picture when we were kids. It has her daily reading plan checked off to the day that she had her stroke. It is one of my most treasured possessions.

  • Nana Faye

    I have been doing this for my granddaughters. I purchase a Bible for them and have their names engraved on the front. Before giving it to them, the year they begin reading, I read it though myself. They are still too young to appreciate my desire for them to love reading God’s word all the days of their lives but it is very meaningful to me to be able to pray for that child as I read her Bible the year before she receives it. Lily starts kindergarten in the fall…it won’t be long before she is ready.

  • Awana4am

    Karen,
    Thank you. I love your sharing with us.
    My mom ‘s Bible was the most beautiful and meaningful gift she gave me. I was in a bad car wreck & I was in & out of the hospital for 3 years before I got to rehab. It has been a long way back. Without God & my family I couldn’t have made it. My mom wrote in her Bible everyday about my hospital stay. It has everything that went on each day & all my friends that visited each day. It has notes from friends that came & didn’t get to see me on the page she was reading that day. When mom gave me her Bible I never dreamed It would have so much love information & her love God in it. There is so much in there that I don’t even remember. She has so much about her & dad through the years. All the important family stuff is in there. I love reading mom’s Bible. You can just see her love for God just reach out to you. All her words just reach out to you like you can see her in each one.
    My 18 year daughter said she wants me to leave mom’s Bible to her. She said it already has her name on it. She is named after my mom.

  • http://littlewomen21.blogspot.com/ Littlewomen21

    What a wonderful idea! I do still have my first precious, note-filled Bible that I started using after I got saved. But I think the idea of also reading through a Bible during the year and making notes purposefully for my oldest daughter is a great idea, too!

  • Kim

    Just this week I sat down with my Dad’s well-used Bible and spent some time reading through his notes. He passed away last fall, and his Bible reading schedule papers are still in the same place he left them, marked through until the day he passed out and went to the hospital, never to return. I’m so grateful my step mom let me bring it home. It has a place of honor in my home, and it is a real treasure to me.

  • Tania

    Karen, loving how your husband gave Kenna his bible from almost 25 years ago. My son will be 16 next summer, I am going to get a bible and have his dad and I do this for his birthday. Thanks so much for sharing.

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